Overflow crowd attends 72nd Annual Meeting
More than 1,500 members and guests attended the 72nd Central Rural Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting May 5, 2011, to hear financial and management reports and vote on a proposed change to the cooperative’s bylaws. 

CREC members filled the main hall at the Payne County Expo Center in Stillwater and spilled into an adjacent room. The Byron Berline Band, from Guthrie, entertained attendees before the meeting, while the Oklahoma State University Air Force ROTC color guard opened the business meeting with the presentation of the United States flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board Secretary-Treasurer James Williams reported on the cooperative’s excellent financial condition and Chairman Len Tontz described how CREC is controlling costs and creating value for its members. 

 CEO David Swank reported how CREC employees and trustees are working to ensure the sustainability of the cooperative business model, and how the cooperative is a member-first organization.

“We truly appreciate your time and investment as member-owners of this cooperative,” Swank said. “Our mission is reliable service and affordable rates, and that is one of the greatest challenges we face in terms of environmental regulation and the future cost of power.” 

Swank explained that to maintain the high standards of service and affordability that members expect and deserve, CREC must continue the process of Building a Culture of Excellence, “which is imbedded in everything we do,” he said.

The members also voted to approve a bylaw amendment introducing term limits for cooperative board trustees. Trustees are now limited to serving no more than three, four-year terms. 

In a break from tradition, a meal was not served during the meeting. Each voting member present was given a $20 restaurant gift card redeemable at one of 56 restaurants located throughout CREC’s service area. Members will also receive a $10 discount off their June electric bill for attending. The board of trustees chose to eliminate serving a meal during the meeting to allow for attendance by a larger crowd and to reduce the overall cost of the meeting.


2011 District Meetings
Membership in an electric cooperative means having a voice in how the business is operated. There is no better way for Central Rural Electric Cooperative members to make sure their voices are heard than by attending district/aware meetings and the annual meeting.

Held in the spring, district/aware meetings bring members together to elect trustees to represent them on the cooperative’s nine-member board of trustees. The meetings also offer members a chance to learn about issues affecting their cooperative. This year, meetings were held in Districts 1, 7 and 9.  The purpose of district meeting is to elect a trustee for each district.

Because quorums were not present at this year’s district meetings, trustee elections could not take place, according to the cooperative’s bylaws.  Gary McCune was reseated in District 1, as required by the bylaws, and Dick Stults, who was unopposed, was reseated in District 9. In District 7, where Trustee Louise Ethridge chose not to seek re-election, the board of trustees appointed Bill Davis of Stroud.  Davis was chosen after the board evaluated applications and interviewed several candidates.

Bad Brad's BBQ, Stillwater
B's Restaurant, Chandler
Boneyard Grill, Guthrie

Boomerang, Chandler

Boomerang, Cushing

Buffalo Wild Wings, Stillwater
CiCi’s Pizza, Stillwater

Coffee Cup Café, Luther

Come Back Café, Perry
Curly's, Stillwater

D'Mario's Pizza, Perkins
Dan’s BBQ, Davenport
Di Vinci’s, Stillwater

El Rodeo, Guthrie

El Vaquero, Stillwater

Eskimo Joe’s, Stillwater

Five Star BBQ, Stroud
Freddie Paul's, Stillwater

Fuente Grande, Guthrie

Gar Wooly’s, Davenport

Homestead, Cushing

IHOP, Stillwater
Jalopy's Drive In, Perkins
Java Daves, Downtown Edmond
Johnny's Rib Shack, Guthrie

Joseppi’s, Stillwater
Katie's Country Griddle, Guthrie

 

 

Ken's Pizza, Chandler
Kumback Lunch, Perry
Lucky Chopstick, Perkins
Mexico Joe's, Stillwater

Missy’s Donut & Bakery, Guthrie

Mom’s Place, Stillwater

Naifeh’s Deli, Cushing
Panda Buffet, Perry

Perkins Family Restaurant, Stillwater
Pita Pit, Stillwater

Pizza Hut, Guthrie

Pizza Hut, Perry

Rib Crib, Stillwater

Rodolfo’s, Cushing

Roma’s Italian Restaurant, Guthrie

Simple Simon's, Perry
Sirloin Stockade, Stillwater

Sonic, Stroud
Sooner's Corner, Perry

Stables, Guthrie

Steer Inn, Cushing
Tater's Restaurant, Perkins
Texas Roadhouse, Stillwater
The Shady Lady Grill, Perry

Valarta’s, Stroud

 

 

Building A Culture of Excellence MySource E-mail Updates SMS Updates Twitter